Beauty & the Bride: Best Bets for Wedding Day Bliss by Donna Lee Nardo

   Savvy brides-to-be recognize that weddings require managing countless details. The reward for all your exhaustive work is a smooth event that everyone — especially you — can enjoy. Since you'll want to look and feel spectacular on your wedding day, there are some beauty do's and taboos you should know.

   Like your gown and veil, your hair and makeup are co-stars of your wedding and together they demand a coordinated look. While it's not necessary to know exactly what hairstyle you'll wear for your wedding as you shop for a gown, it's helpful to have an idea, according to Nubest & Co. hairstylist, Colleen Scholl.

   For example, it's best to know beforehand that those popular wispy updos don't look so ideal on you. In the end, says Scholl, "your hairstyle should be appropriate for the style of your gown." One rule of thumb is to wear your hair down with off-the-shoulder gowns, and up for designs fashioned around the neck to show off the bead, sequin or other neckline work.

   Scholl suggests bringing a hair clip to the bridal salon so you can experiment with makeshift hairstyles while trying on gowns and veils. Should you opt to wear your hair down, you'll still need to ensure that the size and shape of your headpiece suits you and is one you feel at ease wearing.

   Because no bride wants any unwelcomed surprises, Scholl cautions against making extreme haircolor or style changes. You should also refrain from using tanning beds, warns Devra Bader, Nubest & Co.'s celebrity stylist/makeup artist. "Many brides make the mistake of tanning and looking too dark, red or freckled. If you must get color, try a self-tanning treatment applied by a skincare professional. It's safer and more natural looking without the risk of sunburn or freckles."

   As far as makeup, consider where your wedding will take place. Bader suggests keeping your skin more natural for outdoor weddings. "Natural light," says Bader, "makes makeup heavier looking. Try to do your makeup near a window or other natural light source." For indoor weddings — and photography — you can create a stronger look.

   Avoid trendy or bold colors even if "the new palette for any given season is dramatic," says Bader. Try a softer shade in the same color family and apply less. One trick to prevent eyeshadow from creasing, offers Bader, is to cover the eyelids with primer first.

   How can you keep your makeup fresh throughout the festivities, photos and tears? Equip your maid of honor or a bridesmaid with Q-tips for touchups says Bader. "And," she adds, "always carry a pressed translucent powder to tone down shine. Pressed powder is too messy."

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Nubest & Co.
1482 Northern Boulevard
Manhasset, NY 11030
516/627-9444